Galamsey is destructive, let us join hands to stop it

We need bold action now to halt the further pollution of our water bodies and destruction of the vegetation. The spectacle at mining communities is an eyesore and requires immediate action to reverse the situation.

From commentaries on the social and the traditional media, it can be deduced that majority of Ghanaians are upset about the way some of our compatriots, with support from Chinese and other foreigners, are destroying our farmlands and water bodies.

A few weeks ago, almost all our urban centres faced acute water challenges, as the water systems did not have water in the rivers to treat for distribution to consumers.

Several reports also indicate that if the authorities fail to stop the assault on our water bodies and vegetation, sooner than later the country would have to import water for domestic and industrial use.

Now our attention is focused on the activities of galamsey operators who, clearly, are destroying our vegetation. But there are other categories of economic activists who are destroying the vegetation.

In the past, nobody, including farmers, dared to till the land close to any water source. It was a taboo to clear the land to the banks of water bodies, and for that vigilance on the part of our traditional authorities, water bodies were protected.

Today, lumbering activities by timber merchants, including illegal chainsaw operators, have destroyed the vegetation and put the livelihoods of farmers and the entire society at risk.

It appears there is a free for all, as those determined at destroying our heritage have been let loose to destroy one of the key things that sustain life on earth — the vegetation.

However, we should also not be oblivious to the fact that politics is also at play in the mining communities because politicians are behind the miners.

That is why, at this stage, everybody agrees that illegal mining must be stopped, while there is the need for the political will to save the vegetation and water bodies. The roadblocks on the path to a clean environment are formidable, and that is why all hands must be on deck to flush out the illegal miners.

But the question is, what will happen to the millions of people who will be displaced by any action to flush out the illegal miners?

In the discourse to seek support for the fight against illegal miners, the names of very powerful elements in chieftaincy, the security forces and the ruling class have been mentioned and we need to get their buy-in as well for the success of the campaign.

The government can decide to use the coercive power of the state to flush out illegal miners, but the Daily Graphic does not think that the intention of the initiative is to deny people their livelihoods.

Whatever the consideration on the table, we think it is about time the nation took the bull by the horns to deal a decisive blow to the menace caused by illegal miners.

The Daily Graphic, therefore, calls on all concerned people to stand up to be counted among those who are determined to end the devastating effects of galamsey.

Let us help make our water bodies clean again and restore our vegetation to its natural cover to sustain life again on earth. We have no option.

If we fail, the future generation will not forgive us for looking on unconcerned while a few selfish people plundered our water bodies, just as we blame our forebears for the devastating effects of slavery.

We better sit up.